Rapid Response Fund No. 20/2019 Rapid Response Fund (RRF) Section 1: Overview of response Philippines Emergency assistance for people affected by the earthquake in Mindanao Summary National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) Implementation November 8, 2019 to February 9, 2020 period 3 (months) Geographical area North Cotabato Province – Municipalities of Makilala and Tulunan Davao del Sur Province – Municipalities of Bansalan and Magsaysay Sectors of response Food Security Targeted 1,500 households beneficiaries Requested budget USD 59,340 (USD) Is there an updated ACT Forum EPRP? Yes Section 2: Narrative Summary Background On October 29, around 9:04 AM, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recorded a magnitude 6.6 earthquake with the epicenter located in the municipality of Tulunan, North Cotabato with a depth of 7 kilometers. Just 2 days after, a 6.5 magnitude shook Central Mindanao with its epicentre at Tulunan, North Cotabato. Almost two weeks before these, on October 16, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded with the same epicenter Tulunan, North Cotabato. All of these occurrences are considered as part of a sequence of events from interrelated faults in the region. PHILVOLCS has reported that aftershocks may continue until December this year. Due to the magnitude of the events, landslide incidents were reported, and small to medium-sized earthquakes are experienced by the affected communities. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has recorded 50,930 households/254,473 persons affected by the series of earthquakes in the provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and North Cotabato. UN OCHA estimates about 43,600 displaced people with about 80% of them staying in evacuation centers. They also reported that 33,110 houses have been damaged, 67% of which totally destroyed. Tulunan and Makilala municipalities in North Cotabato and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur have been most affected. There is a reported total of 22 dead, 424 injured, and 2 missing persons. Humanitarian Needs The number of displaced people and people moving to evacuation centers is increasing every day as they feel the aftershocks and its effect on their homes. The most urgent and requested assistance needed are food, sleeping materials, and tarpaulins which people turn into makeshift tents. We expect that the need to support repair and reconstruction of houses will also increase. Evacuation centers, usually school buildings, are also getting damaged by the aftershocks that people prefer to stay in makeshift tents around it. The national government leads the emergency response although the needs on the ground are much more than what they can support. Confusion on the relief distribution process has resulted to incidents of disputes and unrest in some evacuation centers. NDRRMC has reported that water systems have been damaged in most areas that water supply is limited especially for drinking water. Some evacuation centers have rations, wherein evacuees would have to provide their own containers. Most displaced individuals, especially children, exhibit the need for psychological first aid and debriefing because of trauma. Capacity NCCP has conducted a number of humanitarian response programmes for many years. The NCCP Secretariat’s Humanitarian Response Team will partner with the Cotabato Regional Ecumenical Council (COREC), a network of local NCCP member churches that has been active in engaging with its communities, especially with the farmers and indigenous people groups. COREC has partnered with the NCCP Secretariat for its relief and rehabilitation project in Cotabato for Tropical Storm Sendong in the past. The NCCP Secretariat is also coordinating the emergency response efforts with its member churches, such as the United Methodist Church-Davao Episcopal Area through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, and Episcopal Diocese of Southern Philippines. Its ecumenical partners, Asuncion Perez Memorial Center Inc. and Citizens Disaster Response Center, are also included in the coordination work. The NCCP is maximizing the Philippine FBO Forum, a network of the three largest Christian councils in the country for humanitarian and development, which is initiated by the ACT Philippines Forum. NCCP coordinates with other humanitarian actors as well, and is active in the coordination mechanisms in the country. With the growing and urgent need for emergency response, the NCCP has already activated its emergency response team and will proceed with the response once resources become available. As a local counterpart, the NCCP Operation Paglingap, a local mobilization program for financial, material, and human resources, will also be launched. Proposed response The proposed response will provide immediate relief through the distribution of food packs to 1,500 households in four (4) municipalities from the two aforementioned regions. The following are the priority areas identified by the NCCP in the affected regions: Province Municipality Target beneficiaries (North) Cotabato Makilala 600 HH Tulunan 400 HH Davao del Sur Bansalan 100 HH Magsaysay 400 HH Does the proposed response honour ACT’s commitment to Child x Yes ☐ No Safeguarding? Problems A series of destructive earthquakes occurred in the island of Mindanao, particularly the provinces of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur which affected the lives of its people. Aftershocks are expected to continue until the end of the year which causes fear and anxiety while people live in makeshift tents outside their homes. Access to food, water, and livelihoods have been disrupted which makes them vulnerable to illness and diseases. Target At least 1,500 directly affected households which represent 7,500 individuals beneficiaries (3,719 women; 3,781 men; 1,599 girls; 1,691 boys). Main activities In coordination with the local partners and authorities in the areas, the following activities are planned to be undertaken within three months: 1. Provision of 1,500 food packs 2. Further assessments will also be conducted as we monitor the earthquake’s impact. Specific 1,500 households are able to meet their basic food needs for two weeks objective(s)/ Outputs Overall objective Address the emergency food needs of households affected by the / Outcome(s) earthquakes in four (4) municipalities in Regions 11 and 12. Reporting Schedule SECRETARIAT: 150, route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switz. TEL.: +4122 791 6434 – FAX: +4122 791 6506 – www.actalliance.org Type of Report Due date Situation report 8 December 2019 Final narrative and financial report 9 April 2020 (60 days after the ending date) Audit report (90 days after the ending 9 May 2020 date) Monitoring and evaluation Project monitoring will be conducted by the NCCP Program Unit on Faith, Witness and Service. Situation and project reports will be prepared by NCCP program staff, COREC, and local partners. Moreover, the final financial and narrative report, as well as the audit will be prepared based on the guidelines set by ACT Alliance reporting and will be in conformity with ACT guidelines. Section 3: ACT Alliance coordination Coordination The ACT Philippines Forum has a working EPRP which is activated based on the triggers set. The NCCP will tap and engage with its member churches, ecumenical networks, and local partners, especially those who will be implementing their emergency response as well. The NCCP will maximize the broader network and partners of the Forum, as well as the Philippine FBO Forum, the network of the three largest Christian councils and faith-based groups in the country for humanitarian and development). Information will be shared with other humanitarian organizations. Protocols on coordination with local government units will be strictly observed. Implementation arrangements The NCCP Program Unit on Faith, Witness and Service under which the Humanitarian Response Unit is lodged will oversee the implementation of the proposed assistance. At the community level, the project will be co-implemented by the Cotabato Regional Ecumenical Council (COREC). COREC is an organized fellowship of NCCP local churches in the region who also been affected by the series of earthquakes in October. The NCCP Secretariat will manage the various stages of project implementation, with proper consultation with authorities, local leaders, and partners. Locally resourced goods and donations from member churches, partners, and individuals will be coursed through the NCCP Secretariat and/or COREC. NCCP will inform the ACT Secretariat immediately if the political issues in the Philippines will affect this humanitarian response. A Risk Analysis and Security Plan will also be developed and shared with the ACT Secretariat since Mindanao is under Martial Law. Human resources and administration of funds The Program Unit on Faith, Witness and Service, the development and humanitarian response unit of the NCCP, will oversee the timely implementation of the response. The project will be supervised by the Program Manager. The Emergency Response Officer will lead the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the proposed interventions, supported by an Emergency Program Assistant. Field Volunteer/s will be hired based on the need to facilitate community mobilization and gather data. The canvassing, purchasing, and monitoring of deliveries shall be performed by the NCCP's procurement officer. The NCCP has a Finance Manual and